Saffronization of Education...

A lot has been talked about the 'saffronization' of text books in India by the self-proclaimed pseudo-secularists. Most of us led to believe that indeed the NDA government has denied us the knowledge that we deserve and we voted them out of power. A little bit of study into this would show up where as a country we are heading towards and what kind of knowledge we are denied with.

The Chavan Committee (1999) strongly urges education about religions as an instrument of social cohesion and social and religious harmony. Let us look at an example.

National Curriculum Framework for School Education (pg-19 & 20) states “All religions therefore have to be treated with equal respect (Sarva Dharma Sambhav) and that there has to be no discrimination on the ground of any religion (Panthnirapekshata)”. Page 57 states “The students may be encouraged to enhance their computational skill by the use of Vedic Mathematics”

It is shocking to see that just at the mention of Vedic Mathematics, so much of furor is created. We have to note that pg-57 barely gives a suggestion and is not making anything compulsory. There are certain methods in Vedas, being used for enhancing computational skills by NASA. And so much has been ridiculed about ‘Indian Astrology’ as a subject.

The Hindu Dharma practices mathematics in everyday life. Another example from a simple ‘sankalpa’ mantra that is recited before any pooja or a good intended event as part of our Dharma would show us how much Hinduism is not a religion but a Dharma – to be practiced.

“Adhya Brahmana; dvithiya praarthe
Swetha varaaha kalpe
Vaivasvatha manvanthre
Ashtavimsathi thame
Kaliyuge prathame paathe
Jambuthveepe
Bharatha varshe
Baratha: kande
Meroho: dhakshine paarshve
Saalivaahana sahaapte
Asmin varthamaane vyavahaarike
Prabhavaathi sashti samvathsaaraanaam madhye
‘sarvajit’ naama samvathsare
Dhakshinaayane; Sharad rithou;
Kaarthika maase; sukla pakshe
Panchamyaam Subha thithou
Vaasara: sthira vaasara yukthaayaam
… nakshathra ….”

Before understanding this sankalpa, some brief on how Hinduism calculates ‘time’! Hinduism explains the time calculation in relative terms to the life time of ‘Lord Brahma’ – the birth God!

What is the ‘Life time’ of Brahma?
His ‘Life time’ is defined as – 100 ‘Brahma’ years with 360 days per year – equivalent to 432 crore ‘earth’ years; His ‘night’ also constitutes of such 432 crore ‘earth’ years;

The end of a ‘DAY’ of brahma, is the universe’s end (the d-day!). Then ‘Lord Brahma’ sleeps for his ‘night’ time (another 432 crore years!). When his next DAY starts, the universe again starts a new cycle of life and evolves for the next 432 crore years!

Every ‘day’ of Brahma is split into 14 parts – each called as a ‘Manvanthra’. There is a head for every ‘Manvanthra’ called ‘The Manu’. The current time frame comes under the ‘Seventh Manu’ named ‘Vaivasvatha’.

Every Manvanthra constitutes of 71 Maha Yugas; 4 yugas constitute one Maha-yuga. The following are the yuga calculations;

Krutha yuga – 17,28,000 Years
Thretha Yuga - 12,96,000 Years
Dwapara Yuga- 8,64,000 Years
Kali Yuga - 4,32,000 Years

A above total of 43,20,000 years constitute a ‘Maha-yuga’.

Each Manvanthra has 71 Maha Yugas; and there are 14 Manvanthras; So
14 X 71 = 994 Maha-Yugas;

6 Maha-yugas are given for the transition period of every Manvanthra to the next; so:

994 Maha-Yugas + 6 Maha-yuga makes to 1000 Maha-Yugas. This is called a ‘Kalpa’ and constitutes Bhrahma’s One DAY. Currently we are in ‘Swetha varaha kalpa’.

To understand better, if we start from the lowest denomination:

1 Maha-Yuga = 43,20,000 Years;
One Manu’s period (Manvanthra) consists 71 Maha-Yugas: 71 X 43,20,000 = 30,67,20,000 Years
There are 14 Manvanthras: 14 X 30,67,20,000 = 429,40,80,000 Years;
6 Maha-Yugas for Manvanthra’s transition:6 X 43,20,000 = 2,59,20,000 Years;
Add the above for 14 Manu’s period: 429,40,80,000 + 2,59,20,000 = 432,00,00,000 (432 crore) Years; which equivalent to BRAHMA’S ONE DAY!

With the above information as a background for our understanding, going back to the Sankalpa Manthra:

“Adhya Brahmana: - During Current Brahma’s 51st year
dvithiya praarthe – in the First Day
Swetha varaaha kalpe – in Swetha Varaha Kalpam
Vaivasvatha manvanthre – In the times of ‘Vaivasvatha’ Manu
Ashtavimsathi thame; Kaliyuge prathame paathe – In the first part of Kaliyuga that comes for the 28th time;
Jambudhveepe – In a place called ‘Jambudhveepam’ that is a part of earth’s seven parts’
Bharatha varshe – In the land called ‘Bharatha Varsham’
Baratha: kande – In the Baratha kandam (continant)
Meroho: dhakshine paarshve – To the south of Mount Meru
Saalivaahana sahaapte – In the times of king ‘Saalivahana’
Asmin varthamaane vyavahaarike – With such information
Prabhavaathi sashti samvathsaaraanaam madhye – from the list of 60 years that starts with ‘Prabhava’
‘sarvajit’ naama samvathsare – in the year of ‘Sarvajit’
Dhakshinaayane; Sharad rithou; - During the time when Sun traverses facing South; in so & so weather time (Spring, summer etc)
Kaarthika maase; sukla pakshe – in so & so month; moon ascending or descending phase;
Panchamyaam Subha thithou – in so & so day ….
Vaasara: sthira vaasara yukthaayaam
… nakshathra ….”

Now come back – we generally live with the English calendar that is so simple – we are in year 2007, December 15th etc. This is because our education system has tuned us not to think beyond 2000 years!

If ‘saffronization’ can bring in such a knowledge that enables us to think beyond just 2000 years then why to oppose this? The sample we have seen is just a single ‘sankalpa’ manthra that we use on a daily basis. If that alone can make us think so big; what about the rest of the Veda that none of us ever bother to even read once? And look at what kind of holistic picture of time our vedic maths is capabile of giving us? What are we missing here? Who is responsible for this?

As a nation we should be ashamed about ourselves; We don’t take pride in our own culture; our own knowledge; The first question one would ask for such posts is ‘Why should I believe this’ & ‘Where is the proof’. For them my request is ‘Why not you believe this?’ and ‘Do we have any proof against this?’ (When you don’t question the existence proof of Jesus Christ 2000 yrs back, when you don’t question about NASA’s claim and snaps of conquering the universe, why you question this alone). Belief is the fundamental engine for growth and innovation!

When something is good let us try to believe and build – may be we will be surprised! Is this what we call 'saffronization'? Then shall we not demand for more of it as a nation?

.. to continue …

Why only in India?

1. There are nearly 52 Muslim countries. Show one Mulslim nation where minorities are extended the special rights that Muslims are accorded in India.
2. Show one Muslim country, which has a non-Muslim as its President or Prime Minister. Show one Mullah or Maulvi who has declared a 'fatwa' against Islamist terrorists.
3. Hindu-majority Maharashtra, Bihar, Kerala, Pondicherry, etc., have in the past elected Muslims as CMs. Can you ever imagine a Hindu becoming the CM of Muslim-majority J&K?
4. In India today Hindus are 85%. If Hindus are intolerant, how come Masjids and Madrasas thrive next to every temple in every city/village?
5. Do Hindus object when Muslims proclaim five times a day on loud-speakers that there is no God except Allah?
6. When Hindus gave Muslims 30% of Bharat for a song, why should Hindus now beg for their sacred places at Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi?
7. If Muslims and Christians are minorities in Maharashtra, UP, Bihar etc., are Hindus not minorities in J&K, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya? Why are Hindus denied minority rights in theses states?
8. When Haj pilgrims are given subsidy, why Hindu pilgrims to Amarnath, Sabarimalai and Kailas Mansarovar are denied even the basic facilities?
9. When Christian and Muslim schools can teach/preach the Holy Bible and the Holy Koran in their educational institutions enjoying minority status why Hindus cannot teach Gita or Ramayana in their schools?
10. Why post-Godhra is blown out of proportion, when no-one talks of the ethnic cleansing of nearly five lakh Hindus from Kashmir?
11. Sanskrit is communal and Urdu is secular? Sadhu is communal and Imam is secular? BJP is communal and Muslim league is secular?
12. Why temple funds are spent for the welfare of Muslims and Christians, when they are free to spend their money in anyway they like?
13. When uniform is made compulsory for school children, why there is no Uniform Civil Code for Indian citizens?
14. In what way, J&K is different from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu or Uttar Pradesh, to have Article 370, two flags and two constitutional provisions?
15. Abdul Rehman Antuley was made a trustee of the famous Siddhi Vinayak Temple in Prabhadevi, Mumbai; can a Hindu - say Mulayam or Laloo or a Sonia those self-proclaimed saviors of minorities - ever become a trustee of a Masjid or Madrasa?

As an Indian citizen, I feel these are very valid and relevant questions that every Indian, regardless of their faiths, should get answers for.

Secularism to the core....

An email chain that I have received has the following contents.. May be this is what India as a country should adapt if we continue to suffer from terrorism...

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***INDIA should pay serious attention to this Australian policy and amendits own soft approach to hooliganism in the name of religion. *

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid tohead off potential terror attacks. A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to Australia and her Queen at a special meeting with Prime Minister JohnHoward, he and his Ministers made it clear that extremists would face acrackdown. Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as h eir apparent to Howard,hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they did not accept that Australia was a secular state, and its laws were made by parliament. "If those are not your values, if you want a country which hasSharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you", he said on national television.

"I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws governingpeople in Australia: one the Australian law and another the Islamic law,that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independentcourts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity togo to another country, which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a betteroption", Costello said.

Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he said those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the othercountry. Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that Muslims who did not want to accept local values should "clear off. Basically peoplewho don't want to be Australians, and who don't want ! to live by Australian values and understand them, well then, they can basically clear off", he said.

Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques Quote: "IMMIGRANTS,NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge inpatriotism by the majority of Australians." "However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the 'politicallyc orrect' crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Australia." "However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand."

"This idea ofAustralia being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Australians, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle.""This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials andvictories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom"

"We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese,Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of oursociety, Learn the language!""Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right; wing,political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christianprinciples, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture."

"We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us." "If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like " A Fair Go", then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet.

We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. By all means, keep your culture, but do not force it on others." This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining,whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, orOur Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.""If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted."

How I wish we as a nation have this kind of spinal chord!

One Snap & One caption...

The politician - larger than life figure, happy & smiling in a digital banner (no reality around).

In front of him - the living conditions of the general public. (The garbage containers)

Watch out the crows (kaakaa koottam) - they feed on the general public and sit around near to politician.

Any other interesting thoughts?

(Nothing offensive to the person in the picture. Just a general Post :-) )

Secularism & Jihad...

For once the Catholic Church pronounced the truth?

There can be no two versions about the agenda of anyone who swearing in as the head of Catholic Church and the king of Vatican – to spread Catholic Christianity. And during the current pope’s predecessor’s time the head of church became more vocal and nonchalant in spreading this message across. With Sonia at the helm of India, they even had the guts to say that their job is conversion and they would do the same. None of the Indian media had the nerves to talk against this as immediately their brand would become a ‘branded non-secular’. After all, the print and video media are not here to ‘serve’ the nation but to do business.

Pope Benedict XVI delivered a couple of messages this week.

Message 1: He said “the violence embodied in the Muslim idea of Jihad, is contrary to reason and God’s plan. And violent conversion to Islam was contrary to reason and thus contrary to God’s nature” – these could not be words of nonchalance – these are carefully treaded, delivered with utmost great assertiveness and affirmation.

Message 2: The Pope also asserted “secularization of society has impeded the West from a full understanding of reality. Secularism has made it difficult for the West to communicate with cultures for whom faith is fundamental, thus making it incompatible with faith. The world’s profoundly religious cultures see this exclusion from the divine, from the universality of reason as an attack on their most profound convictions”

Message 1 spreads the message loud and clear – Jihad and conversion to Islam is against God’s nature. If that is so, what do we call the statement of the church previously delivered that “Conversion to Christianity is their duty and they swear by it”.

Message 2 clarifies that Pope sees secularism as risk and danger to the faith – Since he represents Christianity, we can understand that secularism of the West is a risk to Christianity and he opposes that! What is the message conveyed here.

Not so long ago, he advised Indian Government to reject the anti-conversion laws as against the secular constitution of India. So he recommended on secularism in India but opposes at West! Why? Simple reason is that “Where there are Christians as majority, secularism becomes contrary to God’s nature! Where Christians are minority he advocates secularism and it becomes God’s command”.

Where are our politicians who claim to be world’s fountain head of secularism? Why are they not releasing any press statements? Where is our media that brings in limelight things that are against the Hindu majority of our nation? Where is Sonia – the modern mother of Indian Secularism? Why is there a silence around?

The answer is ‘Minority Votes’.

But as my take, by delivering the first message, for once the Catholic Church has pronounced the Truth!

Jai Hind!